The Quality of Sentience

Learning is an ongoing process which has no end. On life's journey, we encounter many people who make a difference to our lives or has taught us something which has a lasting impression on our mind.

When I look back, I fondly remember my co-worker who was an extremely nice person, polite, courteous and would always lend others a helping hand. It so happened one day that I was in the midst of a conversation with one of my colleague and was trying to drive home a point when my co-worker intervened asking me to do him a small favour. I hesitantly said that i would listen to him later yet he was persistent in his request to which I just snapped at him. I told him that he should manage his own work instead of asking me to assist him as I was already overloaded and not to bother me again.

I must have been very loud in my tone as when I turned my back, our subordinates were all eyes on us. He stood there grinning with a serene countenance and muttered softly." They are all looking. You are shouting at me."....For a moment it did not register what he uttered.

After giving him a piece of my mind, he left and I plunged myself into work

Hours later his words resonated in my ears. There was a sudden surge of emotions and out of the blue, tears welled up in my eyes. I was bewildered ,flabbergasted and tried to comprehend the whole episode. Here was a person who understood me, stood by me through thick and thin, helped me in my work and how selfish I had been.

It was my mistake and I wanted to apologize but held back thinking that I would make a fool of myself if I told him that I cried the entire day. However, the next day, I mustered enough courage and apologised. It took me by surprise when he said that he was hurt and had cried to which I blurted out, "So what, even I too cried". It was indeed an awkard and embarrassing moment for me but I realised that he made me sentient.

Yes, the quality of sentience which was lacking in me all these years.